British banker who exposed Lutnick-Epstein ties dies by suicide

Simon Andriesz, a British former banker and whistleblower, has died by suicide at the age of 57. He had exposed the ties between the current U.S. Commerce Secretary, Howard Lutnick, and Jeffrey Epstein.

## A whistleblower who paid a high price

Simon Andriesz, a British former banker and whistleblower, has died by suicide at the age of 57. The news was confirmed by **Andy Agathangelou**, founder of Transparency Task Force, the activist group that had organised several events with him. Andriesz had been a managing director at **BGC Group**, the Wall Street firm where Howard Lutnick served as chief executive. Before that, he had spent more than 35 years working in financial markets.

What turned Andriesz into a whistleblower was a specific finding: a chain of emails from 2018 in which Lutnick and **Jeffrey Epstein** discussed the plans of a startup in which both were involved. The evidence he found indicated that Lutnick had not disclosed that business relationship. He told the BBC. The British broadcaster aired the case in July as part of File on 4 Investigates, in an episode titled The Epstein Files: Lutnick, the Royals and the British Whistleblower.

## Lutnick changed his story on Epstein

**Howard Lutnick** is now U.S. Commerce Secretary. For years he maintained that he had cut all ties with Epstein long before the scandal broke. That changed in February, when he appeared before the Senate Appropriations Committee.

There he acknowledged that he had visited Epstein's island in **2012**. He said he had gone with his vvife, their four children and nannies. "We had lunch on the island. It's true. For an hour," he stated. Lutnick has also said that he unequivocally condemns the conduct attributed to Epstein and to those who participated in his illegal activities. "The survivors of his crimes deserve our respect and support," he has said.

## The cost of speaking out

Andriesz spoke at a **Transparency Task Force** event shortly after the BBC episode aired. There he described what he said was unfair treatment of whistleblowers by the British regulator. He spoke of the price he had paid in his career, his health and his family. It was not an abstract complaint.

Agathangelou confirmed his death last week. "It is with great sadness that we share the news that Simon Andriesz, a valued member of our community, has passed away," he said. Andriesz was **57 years old**. What he found and told put him at the centre of a story that mixes banking, political power and one of the most documented abuse networks of recent decades. If someone close to you shows signs of crisis, health services and mental health helplines are the appropriate resource.